Gursimran Hans


The bulk of my sports work is on football, but I have also written articles on cricket, basketball and baseball. 

Wolves of Westminster •

How football might provide a perfect test for the free market - Gursimran Hans

I was lucky enough to get a ticket for Euro 2020 on the first ballot, the game that became Italy v Austria. I lost the ticket on the second ballot following COVID attendance restrictions. Then, I got an update saying that due to losing out, I had priority access. Unfortunately, this email went to my promotions folder, so I did not notice in time for the original game. Being an England fan, I was constantly trying to get in to get a ticket for the Germany game, though the portal just gave me an e
Desi Sports Cast •

Odisha will host the Indian Women's League

ODISHA will host the Indian Women’s League, with dates to be confirmed later. It has been over a year since the last edition of India’s premier women’s football league concluded. On February 14, Sabihtra Bhandari scored a late winner for Gokulam Kerala after they had blown an earlier 2-0 against KRYSPHA to win the Banglore final 3-2. According to Business Standard, AIFF President Praful Patel said: “Over the years, the tournament has provided the platform for a lot of budding footballers to s
Desi Sports Cast •

India could play in the Copa America in 2024

INDIA could be a guest nation in the 2024 Copa America according to reports. The tournament which will be played in Ecuador will contain either two or six guest teams. The 2021 tournament will be played in June in Argentina and Colombia, having been postponed from last year. Australia and Qatar had been set to compete at guest nations but pulled out due to the World Cup/AFC Cup qualifiers. It is understood Australia suggested India as a replacement, but scheduling concerns ruled out their pa
Desi Sports Cast •

AIFF confirms March double-header with Oman and the UAE

THE AIFF has confirmed India will return to international football in March with a double-header against Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Both games on March 25 and March 29 will take place in Dubai. These games will be the team’s first international friendlies since November 2019. The national team will meet in a camp in Dubai on March 15 according to reports. India will host Qatar, travel to Bangladesh and host Afghanistan in June for their final three World Cup qualifiers. They cannot
Desi Sports Cast •

IPL 2021 Latest: Ness Wadia explains Kings XI Punjab re-brand: 'Reinvent ourselves'

NESS WADIA, franchise co-owner, has explained the decision to re-brand Kings XI Punjab as Punjab Kings. The franchise was a founding franchise in 2008. They finished third in the inaugural season, finishing second in the regular table, they were top of the regular table in 2014 before losing the final, these are their only two play-off finishes. Mr Wadia, who owns 23% of the franchise, told PTI: “We just felt that we wanted to relook at things. “We needed to rebrand and reinvent ourselves af
Desi Sports Cast •

Cricket latest: Chris Silverwood apologises to Super Kings signing Ali

ENGLAND COACH Chris Silverwood has apologised to all-rounder Moeen Ali for the way in which the team confirmed he will miss the last two tests in India. Captain Joe Root had suggested the decision to leave came from Mr Ali, according to the BBC. After a bidding war between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings, Mr Ali was selected by the Super Kings in the recent IPL auction. Mr Silverwood was reported as saying: “We are sorry the impression we gave was that Moeen is being treated different
Desi Sports Cast •

IPL Latest: Aakash Chopra calls for Moeen Ali to sign for Chennai Super Kings

AAKASH CHOPRA has suggested the Chennai Super Kings would be a perfect fit for England all-rounder Moeen Ali. The comments came after the second test between England and India. Mr Ali scored just six runs of 30 balls in the first innings but hit 43 of 18 in the second as well as four wickets in both of India’s innings. Mr Chopra tweeted: “Mooen’s innings might have added a couple of hundred thousand dollars to the bidding amount day after.] “Chennai might not be a bad place for him. “They n
Desi Sports Cast •

IPL Latest: Eight Nepali players set to feature in 2021 IPL draft - CAN

EIGHT CRICKETERS from Nepal have been recommended for the 2021 Indian Premier League draft according to the Cricket Association of Nepal. The most notable of the list is arguably 20-year-old spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who was released after three seasons with the Delhi Capitals and is now free to join any franchise. Mr Aiyer is a 20-year-old all-rounder, Mr Bhandari is a 30-year-old wicketkeeper whose domestic career has been restricted to Nepal, save for a short spell in Sri Lanka with Kalut
Desi Sports Cast •

AIFF General Secretary predicts huge growth of Indian football

KUSHAL DAS, the AIFF General Secretary, has predicted that football will eventually become the most popular sport in India. Speaking to PTI, Mr Das noted a huge growth in investment in the last decade. A major vision is the continual growth of the women’s game. Mr Das explained: “The investment in Indian football since 2010 has probably increased tenfold. “Football is in real terms a global sport and with India’s demography and the globalisation, it is a natural fallout that football will be
Desi Sports Cast •

ISL Latest: Subha Ghosh status in limbo as AIFF wait for Kerala Blasters response

THE ALL INDIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION (AIFF) is waiting for a response from Kerala Blasters before its Player Status Committee can decide on the fate of Subha Ghosh. ATK Mohun Bagan claim the striker was part of a swap deal for Nongdamba Naorem. During Mr Naorem’s medical he was found to have had an ACL tear, meaning the transfer was cancelled on New Years’ Eve. An official told the Times of India: “As per AIFF’s regulations, if a club rejects the transfer, then the secretariat does not have the
Desi Sports Cast •

IPL Latest: Reports suggest just one new franchise is likely for 2021

THE BOARD OF CONTROL FOR CRICKET IN INDIA (BCCI) is likely to add just one new franchise for IPL 2021 according to reports. Last month, members gave the go-ahead for two potential franchises. But according to Times of India, just one is likely to be the number of new additions. According to the report, the entry fee for franchise 10 could be higher, if only one place is made available for 2021 as simultaneous bids could cap the price. The addition of two teams is also considered too difficul
Desi Sports Cast •

Cricket latest: Former ECB chairman claims IPL owners willing to invest in The Hundred: 'Fact'

COLIN GRAVES, the former chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has claimed Indian Premier League owners would be willing to invest in The Hundred. Due to start last year before COVID-19 postponement, the Hundred is a 100-ball white ball franchise tournament. As per The Guardian, the ECB is reluctant to sell private equity but registered £105million in losses last year. Explaining the issue, Graves said: “English cricket has got a bright future. There is fantastic talent coming from
Desi Sports Cast •

Indian Super League latest: Bengalru sack Cuadrat

Mr Cuadrat had been in charge of the club since 2018, winning the ISL in his first year. Despite winning three and drawing the other three of their first six matches, Bengaluru has lost their last three on the trot. Parth Jindal, a director at the club, told Times of India: “We feel the club needs to head in a new direction – one where ere the ethos and philosophy of Bengaluru FC begins reflecting again. “We felt there was a departure from the philosophy that we held true last season, which p
Desi Sports Cast •

Coronavirus latest: Plans for IPL 2021 depend on success of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

A BBCI administrator has said the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which begins on Sunday, will provide a litmus test for the 2021 IPL. The season is scheduled to begin in March, with the mini-auction on February 11 according to CricTracker. After the January 4 BCCI meeting, the trading window was opened with teams being told to release players by January 21. The member told Mumbai Mirror: “How we approach the next IPL is dependent on how the Mushtaq Ali plays out.” India is the preferred host, but
Desi Sports Cast •

Queensland legislators send message to India team after quarantine controversy - 'Don't come'

ROS BATES, the Queensland Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, has sent a blunt message to the touring India team after an official voiced complaints about coronavirus quarantine restrictions. Australia have won the ODI series but lost the T20i series. The test series is tied at 1-1 with the fourth and final test taking place in Brisbane, which is in the state of Queensland. As per Daily Mail Australia, Ms Bates said: “If the Indians do not want to play by the rules, don’t come.
Desi Sports Cast •

Coronavirus latest: Indian government confirms attendance policy for IPL 2021

NEW DELHI’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports have confirmed New Delhi will allow 50% attendance for major sporting events in India. This will cover the 2021 IPL and England’s tour of India. The rules apply to outdoor events with CCTV in place to detect over-crowding. As reported by Inside Sport, local authorities will still retain some veto power. The tournament is expected to begin in April, with the annual auction in February. South African fast bowler Dale Steyn will play no part in
Desi Sports Cast •

Football latest: Sunil Chhetri backs AFC Asian Cup hosting bid: 'No bigger honour'

INDIA CAPTAIN, top scorer and most capped player Sunil Chhetri has given his backing behind the AIFF’s bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The Federation made the announcement on Wednesday. The other nations who have expressed an interest or desire in bidding are Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, India and the Saudis have not hosted the tournament but the others have both hosted the tournament twice. Mr Chhetri told aiff.com: “There is no bigger honour and privilege than playing for your country
Desi Sports Cast •

IPL Latest: Ahmedabad looks set to get 9th franchise

REPORTS SUGGEST the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat could receive the ninth Indian Premier League franchise at this month’s BBCI Annual General Meeting. According to Times Now News, a tenth franchise could do either Lucknow or Kanpur, both in Uttar Pradesh. The meeting is set to take place on December 24, though it is unclear if it will be decided to add two teams or just one. A BCCI source told Insidesport: “Time constraints are there but the full auction will be in the interest of everyone. IP
Desi Sports Cast •

ISL latest: Scottish giants Rangers explain decision to stream Indian Super League

SCOTTISH GIANTS Rangers have agreed a deal to broadcast Indian Super League games in the United Kingdom. The side who have won 54 league titles have a strategic partnership with Bengaluru. The deal overs six games and follows a deal that sees Indian network Star Sports broadcast SPL matches. James Bisgrove, the commercial and marketing director of the Glasgow club, was quoted by Sports Pro Media as saying: “This innovative partnership with the ISL represents a further pillar in Rangers intern
Desi Sports Cast •

IPL latest: Sam Curran speaks fondly of playing in the IPL: 'Taken my game to a different standard'

ENGLAND ALL-ROUNDER Sam Curran says his experience of playing in the Indian Premier League this season has improved him as a cricketer. Mr Curran, 22, was an ever-present for the Chennai Super Kings taking 13 wickets in 14 games and securing 186 runs. Speaking to Sky Sports on England’s white ball tour of South Africa, the former Kings XI Punjab man said whilst he was not sure if it improved his chances of playing for England, it had improved him as a cricketer. He explained: “I really enjoye
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